Fever of unknown origin in children (POAC)

All Pinnacle practices in the Te Whatu Ora Lakes area.

Patients domiciled in Te Whatu Ora Lakes area.

Febrile (>38 C) children with intermediate risk/amber symptoms or signs that can be safely managed in the community – see related resources.

Please be aware this funding is for care over and above a standard practice consultation.

This funding does not include triage and administration of medication under standing orders prior to GP consultation.

• Patients not domiciled in Te Whatu Ora Lakes area.
• Any child with high risk/red symptoms or signs. Any pre-hospital treatment that has been provided cannot be funded via POAC, as admission to hospital is inevitable. 
• Any child with low risk/green symptoms or signs.   

This funding does not include triage and administration of medication under standing orders prior to GP consultation.

Exclusion criteria to access POAC funding should not preclude emergency treatment of any medical conditions. 

Once the episode of care is completed and the patient is no longer acutely unwell, they exit the POAC programme.  

Once the patient exits the POAC programme, the case requires a clinical outcome to be lodged. No payment can be made for any claims unless the outcome is completed.  

Where treatment in the community is no longer clinically appropriate, the patient may be admitted to hospital during a POAC plan of care. Please indicate this in the clinical outcome.  

The initial 15-minute GP/NP consultation incurs the usual consultation fee paid by the patient. All POAC services thereafter are provided at no cost to the patient. If the claim is unable to be funded by POAC, the patient may be liable to the practice for the fees incurred. 

Please be aware this funding is for care over and above a standard practice consultation.

This funding does not include triage and administration of medication under standing orders prior to GP consultation.

Please make your claim via Primary Options, select Fever Unknown Origin - children and then attach the appropriate invoice(s).

Prices listed below are GST inclusive.

Practice observations: $1.00 per minute 

Practice observations – maximum 3 hours and based on treatment provided as evidenced in clinical notes. This invoice can only be claimed at the time of the initial consultation.

In-clinic observations can be claimed based on 3 x 10 minute baseline observations per hour.

GP/NP/CP extended consultation: $79 or 

Rural GP/NP/CP extended consultation: $89 or

This funding is available to those practices who receive rural funding. 

Afterhours GP/NP/CP Extended consultation: $99 

This funding can be claimed when care is provided after 5pm, on weekends or on public holidays.

To cover an additional 15 minutes of GP/NP time above the initial 15-minute consultation. This invoice can be claimed twice per episode of care to fund a maximum of 30 minutes of additional time. This invoice can only be claimed at the time of the initial consultation

GP/NP/CP follow up: $79 or RN follow up: $39 or

Rural GP/NP/CP follow up: $89 or RN follow up: $49 or

This funding is available to those practices who receive rural funding. 

Afterhours GP/NP/CP follow up: $99 or RN follow up $59

This funding can be claimed when care is provided after 5pm, on weekends or on public holidays.

A follow-up visit may be funded (based on treatment provided as evidenced in clinical notes).

This is limited to one consult within the acute episode of care. While follow up consultations can be virtual, to be eligible for funding, documentation needs to include a two-way conversation between the practice and the patient. A sent message with no documented response does not meet the definition of a consultation.

GP/NP home visit: $126 or RN home visit: $79 
This is limited to one per episode of care within 3 days of the initial consult and cannot be claimed on the day of the initial consult. 

Practices are required to provide sufficiently detailed consultation notes to determine appropriate use of POAC funding otherwise the referral may be declined.   

It has been recommended that in addition to a good assessment and history, the full range of appropriate observations should be documented, especially where the diagnosis is undetermined. It is important to state the time of consultations and interactions with the patient. 

The initial 15-minute GP/NP consultation incurs the usual consultation fee paid by the patient. All POAC services thereafter are provided at no cost to the patient. 

The service is funded by Te Whatu Ora.